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Market Chatter: IMF Urges Zambia to End Vitol's Exclusive Access to Key Fuel Pipeline

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Vitol Group is supplying diesel to Zambia through exclusive access to the Tazama pipeline until September under an emergency arrangement that the International Monetary Fund has urged authorities to end, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary Ephraim Munshifwa reportedly said Vitol is the sole supplier through the pipeline linking Zambia's copper belt to Tanzania's port of Dar es Salaam.

Zambia suspended open access to the pipeline in April after oil market disruptions linked to the Iran conflict. The IMF called on the government last month to restore open access and disclose the terms of the arrangement.

The pipeline handles about 60% of Zambia's fuel imports. Vitol did not immediately respond to a request for comment by.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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